Staunton staff outline draft goals, simplified land‑use map for Comprehensive Plan 2045

Jane Taylor, a planning staff member for the City of Staunton, told council on Oct. 23 that work on the Comprehensive Plan 2045 has advanced from data collection to drafting goals, strategies and the tactics that will implement them. The update reflects two rounds of stakeholder meetings and a community workshop on June 25 that drew more than 100 residents.

Taylor said the draft plan ties housing, economic development and transportation together: "industry follows talent, and you can't have a strong workforce if people can't afford to live here," and stakeholders linked attainable housing to workforce concerns. She also summarized community feedback favoring "traditional human scaled architecture" and walkable, mixed‑use downtown development.

The draft includes a proposed consolidation of the existing 17 future‑land‑use categories into 10 to make the map less like zoning and more like a vision for growth. Taylor highlighted two specific changes: creation of a distinct downtown core designation to protect the city center's character and a mixed‑use corridor designation to encourage walkable, Main‑Street–style development in appropriate places. She said staff and consultants will prepare several alternative maps for public review.

Taylor said the project team has completed the final round of stakeholder meetings to refine specific tactics and will present those tactics and map alternatives at a public open house on Monday, Nov. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bessie Weller Elementary School. Following that meeting the city plans a citywide online survey in early 2026 before drafting materials go to the planning commission and then council for public hearings and adoption.

The plan's outreach so far includes a June community workshop, three stakeholder rounds and targeted steering‑committee sessions; Taylor said the next step is testing draft tactics with stakeholders and soliciting broader public comment. She told council the tactics will include detailed, measurable actions—examples include establishing a robust bike network and prioritizing implementation through the city's bike and pedestrian plan.

Council members asked whether the next open house will present multiple future‑land‑use alternatives and whether the public will be educated on the difference between land‑use guidance and zoning. Taylor and City Manager Lehi Beauregard said the November meeting will show several alternative maps and emphasize that the future‑land‑use map is a 20‑year vision, not an immediate zoning change.

Council received the update as informational; no action was required that evening.

The city encouraged council and residents to attend the Nov. 10 open house and to watch for the online survey in early 2026.